Valve structure



Feb. 1l, 1958 M. c. LENGEL VALVE STRUCTURE Filed March 7, 1956 INVENTO./W///EL C. f/ GEL Arron/vn /f/G. i

FIG. E.

yforevery such defected item the goodwill of the product isproportionally reduced.

Unit@ .i

This invention relates to a valve structure `and more particularly to animproved valve construction'for use in an aerosol receptacle orthe likefor containing a substance under pressure.

A critical problem presently existing in the art of dis- -pensing `anaerosol product from an aerosol container is that of the syphon tubebecoming separated from the valve means, thus rendering it impossiblefor the uid to be properly discharged from the container. As a result arelatively large number of aerosol containers are thus rendered defectedwhereby such defective containers are either rejected or the containerand substance contained therein are rendered useless. Since theinspection there-v of is rendered diicult and expensive because of thedifiiculties of ascertaining the conditions within the containers, thedefect remains undetected until the defected article reaches theultimate consumer. Consequently which reaches the consumer,

Heretofore,l it has been the practice to lit the end of the syphon tube,to the valve means by simply sliding the end of the tube over the valveeyelet. Thus the snugness of the tit between the tube and the valveeyelet provided the only means of attachment. Consequently, anyexpansionof the tube relative to'the eyelet due to any changes in climaticconditions, or by the inherent pressure of the fluid passingtherethrough or by excessive or rough handling or the like, in additionto the weight of the'tube would cause the latter to become so loose thatit would frequently slip off or become separated from the valve means.When this occurred, it became impossible to remedy the defect in thefield, and as a result, the container and substance therein wererendered totally useless and wasted. A'further -disadvantage of thevalve structure heretofore used is that they were relatively complex,diiiicult to `assemble and expensive to manufacture.

An object of this invention is to provide means for positively securingthe syphon tube to the valve means.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for positivelysecuring the syphon tube to the valve means so that as the tendency ofthe tube and valve means to separate becomes greater, the resistanceagainst the force acting to separate the tube from the valve meansisincreased proportionately.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simplified valvestructure which is relatively inexpensive to produce, simple to assembleand positive in o'peration.V

Another object of this invention is to provide the tube receivingportion of the valve means with guiding means to facilitate the ttingandcentering of the tube thereto together with meansfor'positively securingthe tube to the valve means.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision of a novel valveeyelet having a pair of spaced depending wall portions wherein thesyphon tube is adapted to be disposed between the walls thereof andpositively secured States Patent =J ice "arerelatively simple, easilyassembled and positively secured in the assembled form.

`Another feature ofthis invention resides inthe provision whereby theinner jwallY of 4:the Yeyelet is provided with an inwardlyand'fdownivar'dly stepped terminating end ,portion having a pluralityjoftapered webs spacially positioned exteriorly of" the inner'wall adjacentthe 'stepped portion whereby the ttig of thel tube thereto isfacilitated by guidingtliel'tube-edover the websland onto the inner wallof the eyelet.

Other features and 'advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription and drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view illustrating the improved valve structureaccording to this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view partlyshown in section of animproved valve eyelet;

Figure 3 is a perspective view-of a modifiedV form of eyelet.

Figure 4 is a sectional View -of .the eyelet of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view, partly in section of stillanother modified form vof eyelet.

Referring to the drawing, .Figure l lillustrates the general assemblyofthe valve structure according to the instant invention. As shown thevalve structure includes a cap member 10 which forms the mountingportion or housing for the component par-ts of the valve. The cap member10 generally consists of a circular blank -provided with a laterallyextending bottom .portion 11 having a raised center portion 12 and anupwardly extending outer peripheral portion `13 provided `yvmirtlrgadownwardly turned terminating flange 14. Accordingly, the cap 10 issecured-to a suitable aerosol Vreceptacle or container 15 as by beadingor crimping the downwardly turned ange 14 to the co-operating edge orneck'16 of the receptacle 15 in the well known manner.

The centrally positioned vraised portion 12 of the cap is provided witha top 17 having an aperture 18 therein through which the valve means 19projects. As illustrated the valve means 19 comprises a -hollow sternportion 19a, having `an integral formed liange portion 19b which isadaptedto function as the valving memberand lower portion 19C `-forreceiving a spring. If desired the ilange portion 19b maybe providedwith adepending peripheral skirt 19d-to form a retaininggroove for r..-ceiving the upper end of the spring 37.

The hollow tubular portion 19a is providedv with a small intake oriiice20 positionediadjacent the lower end thereof, the orifice 20 -extendinglaterally -.to communicate with the centralpassageway 21 of the stem, itdesired, the upper end of the stem is-tted with a head 22 having amixing chamber23 and laterally extending nozzle 24 through which theaerosol substance is discharged.

Disposed below and Aunderlyingthe undersurface of the top 17 is anannular sealing washer or Agasket v25 which is provided with acenter-opening-26vaxially, aligned with the-aperture 18 and-valvestem19a. It will-be noted that opening 26 is suiiciently large soas tosnugly embrace the hollow valve stem 19a to form a tight seal, yetpermitting the latter to be slidably mounted therein. According to thisinvention the sealingv washer-25 is generally formed of a rubber,neoprene or other suitable resilientsealing material. While the washerorgasket 25 may be frictionally, secure within the raised portion 12, anovel valve eyelet 27 is frictionally fitted within the raised portion12 of the cap to positively'hold the washer in place.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 th'e'novel valve eyelet ber19b and aseat forV the spring 37. The upper end of the body is laterally bent toforma ange or shoulder p 29 and has connected thereto a depending skirtor outer wall 30 spaced from said main body or inner depending p innerwall portion 28. As illustrated, the terminating,

depending edge portion of the skirt or outer wall 30 is p providedwithan inturned flange or hook portion 31 which is adapted to bite or engagethe end of the syphon tube 32 as will be hereinafter described. lfdesired, in order to facilitate the manufacture of the eyelet, thedepending skirt 30 may be provided with a plurality of spacedlongitudinally extending slots 33 to expedite the shaping of the samesubstantially as shown.

The valving member 19b which is preferably integrally formedintermediate the ends of the valve, stemis normally urged into sealingposition against the under surface of the washer or gasket 25. Since thewasher or gasket 25 is provided with an aperture for snugly engaging thevalve stem, it will be noted that the valving member 19h is sucientlylarge to form a tight seal with the gasket. Further it will be notedthat the valve portion 19h prevents the valve stem from being pulledthrough the aperture of the gasket. The upper surface of the'valvingmember 19h is made flat so that it may engage the gasket to form a Hushand tight seal.

Thus, it will be noted that the spring 37 normally urges the valve 19bagainst the washer so that it is maintained in normal seating position.As a resultY the orifice is sealed or closed by the washer 25, thelatter being sufciently wide to completely close the orifice asillustrated in Figure l. With the orifice thus blocked, the valveportion 19b is firmly seated against the gasket 25 toseal the interiorof the container from the atmosphere, Consequently no gas is permittedto ow beyond the valve. e

According to this invention the syphon tube 32 is positively secured tothe valve means by snugly tting the upper end of the tube about theinner wall portion 28 of the eyelet. Accordingly, the tube is disposedbetween the spaced wall portions of the eyelet.

To positively secure the tube 32 to the eyelet, the depending skirt orouter wall 30 is inwardly bent so that the terminating hook portion 31of the skirt bites into the tube 32 to positively clamp the tube to theeyelet. If desired an inward bend may be formed by a suitable crimpingoperation to secure the eyelet and the assembled valve to the raisedportion 12 of the cap member as indicated at 39, 40. Or if desired, theeyelet bend at 40 may be preformed and the eyelet snapped in position tothe cap.

While the terminating edge portion 28a of the eyelet 27 may be simplyinwardly turned to form a seat or backing member for the spring 37, thelowerend of the inner depending wall portion of the eyelet 27a,illustrated in Figure 5, may be provided with an inwardly and downwardlystepped terminating end portion 38. ln this form the lower end of thespring can be more firmly supported on the stepped portion 38a. p

As illustrated, circumferentially spaced about the stepped portion 38 ofthe eyelet there is provided'a plurality of diverging web portions 38h.By the use of such diverging webs it has been discovered thatpositioning of the upper end of the tube on the eyelet is greatlyfacilitated in that the diverging webs aid in centering and positioningthe tube onto the eyelet as the tube is fitted thereto. In productionline assembly, this`"featurepgreatly increases production withproportional savings as a result thereof.

Thus, it willV be noted that the improved eyelet 27 or 27a securelygrips the tube 32 in such a manner that as forces tending to separatethe two are increased, the resistance against the separation of the tubefrom the eyelet'is increased. This is readily apparent by the fact thatas the tendency of the tube to be pulled is increased, the

resistance of the hook portion 31 to such reaction is likewiseincreased. As a result the critical problem of the tube becomingseparated from the valve which heretofore existed and which sofrequently rendered the product useless is positively remedied. Theintermediate bend portion 40 of the skirt and terminating edge portion31 engaging the tube complement each other in positively securing thetube to the eyelet.

As a result, expansion of the tube and all the other influencing factorswhich heretofore tended to separate the tube from the valve eyelet nolonger can effect the separation of the tube valve and eyelet. For thisreason, it is apparent that a substantial saving is afforded in thatwaste is reduced and the goodwill of the product is less likely to beinjured as a result of defective containers. Furthermore the websportion of the eyelet facilitates the positioning of the tube on theeyelet.

Inthemodied form of eyelet illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the eyelet 50is similar in construction as the eyelet 2.7 except that in lieu of thehooks portion 31, the outer skirt 51 is provided with a plurality ofdimples or protuberances 52 circumferentially spaced about the skirt 51to secure the syphon tube to the center body or inner wall portion 53.Thus it will be apparent that as the skirt is crimped to the cap portion12, the skirt 51 is bent so that the dimples 52 will bite into the tube,to securely and positively connect the tube to the eyelet.

For operation -of the improved valve, it is simply necessary to depressthe valve stem an amount sufcient to move the orifice 20` downwardly toa point just beyond the gasket 25,k so that the lluid under pressurepasses upwardly through the tube 32 into the main eyelet body 28,through orifice 20 to passageway 21 and out through nozzle 24. When thedesired amount Yof fluid is dispensed, the valve stern is released,whereby the valve 24 is automatically urged into normal sealinglposition by the spring 37.

Although the inventionV has been described in detail, it will beunderstood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrativerather than restrictive, as many structural details are susceptible tomodification and change without departing from the spirit and scope ofthis invention.

I claim:

1. For use in an aerosol container having a valve means and a syphontube connected thereto, the improvement of a securing means forpositively mounting the tube to the valve means so as to prevent anypossible separation of the tube therefrom, said securing meanscomprising an eyelet having inner and outer depending spaced wallportions, the outer wall portion being provided with a plurality ofspaced, longitudinally extending slots, said inner depending wallportion adapted to be received in the end of said tube so that the tubeis ldisposed between said inner and outer wall portions, and said outerwall portion being inwardly bent Yto securely grip said end of the tubebetween the depending walls of said eyelet.

2. For use in an aerosol container having a valve means and a syphontube connected thereto, the improvement of a securing means forpositively mounting the tube to the valve means so as to prevent anypossible separation of the tube therefrom, said securing meanscomprising an `eyelet having integrally formed'inner and outer,depending spaced wall portions, said inner depending wall portion havingan inwardly turned terminating edge portion adaptof the tube therefrom,said securing means comprising an eyelet having inner and outer,depending spaced wall portions, said inner depending wall portion havingthe lower portion provided with an inwardly and downwardly stepped endportion, said step adapted to form a firm seat for a valve spring, saidstepped portion being adapted to be received in the end of said tube sothat the tube is disposed between said inner and outer depending wallportions, and a plurality of spaced tapering web portionscircumferentially disposed about said stepped lower end portion of saidinner wall portion for facilitating the positioning of said tube thereonand said outer wall portion being inwardly bent to securely grip saidend of the tube between the walls of Isaid eyelet.

4. In combination with an aerosol container having a valve means andasyphon tube connected thereto, the improvement wherein said valve meansincludes a securing means for positively holding the tube to said valvemeans to prevent any possible separation of the tube therefrom, saidsecuring means comprising an eyelet having a depending body portionadapted to house a spring loaded valve means, said body portion havingintegrally formed therewith a laterally extending flange provided with adepending skirt portion spaced from said body portion, said body portionbeing adapted to be received in the end yof said tube whereby said tubeend is disposed between said depending body and depending skirt portion,said skirt being inwardly bent to engage said tube for positivelysecuring tube therebetween.

5. In combination with an aerosol container having a valve means and asyphon tube connected thereto, the improvement wherein said valve meansincludes a means for positively securing said tube to said valve meansto prevent any possible separation of the tube therefrom, said meanscomprising an eyelet having a body portion adapted to house a springbiased valve member, said body portion having a laterally extendingflange, and a depending skirt portion connected to said flange andspaced from said body portion, Isaid skirt having an inwardly turned,lower terminating edge portion, said tube being adapted to be tted tosaid body portion whereby said fitted end of said tube is disposedbetween said 4spaced depending skirt and body portions, said inturnededge portion of the skirt being adapted to bite into said tube topositively secure the same to the valve means whereby said resistance toseparation of the tube from ythe valve means increases a-s the tendencyof the same to separate increases.

6. In combination with 1an aerosol -container having a valve means and asyphon tube connected thereto, the improvement wherein said valve meansincludes a means for positively securing said tube to said valve rmeansto prevent any possible separation of the tube therefrom, said meanscomprising an eyelet having a body portion adapted to house a springbiased valve member, said body portion having a laterally extendingflange, and a depending skirt portion connected to said flange andspaced from said body portion, said skirt having an inward bend at anintermediate portion thereof and an inwardly and upwardly turned lower,terminating edge portion, said tube being adapted to be fitted to saidbody portion whereby said tted end of said tube is disposed between saidspaced depending skirt and body portions, said intermediate bend andupwardly inturned edge portion of the skirt being adapted to engage saidtube to positively secure the same to the valve means, whereby saidresistance to separation of the tube from the valve means increases asthe tendency of the same to separate increases.

7. An improved valve structure for use with an aerosol receptacle forcontaining a fluid under pressure comprising a cap member provided witha raised portion, said raised portion having a top provided with anaperture, a valving means having a valving member and hollow stemintegrally connected for dispensing said fluid, said stem having anintake orice adjacent the lower end thereof and projects upwardlythrough said aperture, a resilient annular member disposed adjacent saidaperture and immediately below said top, said member being of sufficientthickness to snugly embrace said valve stem to form a seal for saidorifice and valve stem in normal non operative position of the stem, aneyelet having spaced depending wall portions ,forming an opening alignedwith said aperture and valve stem, a spring mounted in the eyeletnormally biasing said valving member, said eyelet retaining said annularmember in said cap and said spring normally biasing valving member intoseating, sealing position against said annular member, and a syphon tubefor directing fluid to the valve means connected to said eyelet, saideyelet including means for positively securing said tube between thespaced depending wall portion thereof so that as the tendency for thesaid tube to separate from said eyelet increases, the resistance againstseparation is increased.

8. For use in an aerosol container having a valve means and a syphontube connected thereto, the improvement of a securing means forpositively securing the tube to said valve means to prevent-Elieseparation of the tube from the valve means, said securing meanscomprising an eyelet having spaced inner and outer depending Wallportions, said inner wall portion being adapted to be received in theend of said tube so that said tube is disposed between said wallportions, and securing means on said outer wall portions for positivelygripping said tube to frictionally secure said tube between said wallportions, said securing means including a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced protuberances on said outer wall, said protuberances beingadapted to engage said tube to frictionally secure said tube betweensaid wall portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,995,098 Healy Mar. 19, 1935 2,621,014 Elord Dec. 9, 1952 2,621,746Beauregard Dec. 16, 1952 2,645,387 Kahn July 14, 1953 2,752,066 Ayreslune 26, 1956

